Chapter 113: You Are Very Different from the Rumors

“So, you didn’t find out what that ghostly noise was at night?”

The patient who had given Wu Yan the information asked.

“Hmm, I’m sorry.” Wu Yan’s attitude was very sincere.

The patient was choked by her serious demeanor. He awkwardly waved his hand.

“Uh, there’s no need to apologize. You meant well, we should be thanking you instead.”

The patient lying next to him, an old grandmother, nodded vigorously. Her eyes were practically shining as she looked at Wu Yan.

“Little girl, which sect are you from? Do you have a cultivation partner yet? Want Grandma to introduce someone to you? Let me tell you, the resources I have are all—”

“Not necessary, ma’am. I don’t have any plans in that direction for now.”

Wu Yan politely turned down the old woman’s enthusiastic offer. Without waiting for her to finish, Wu Yan left the ward. She simply couldn’t handle such overly familiar old folks.

Watching Wu Yan almost flee, Ji Xuerou, who was waiting outside the door, raised an eyebrow after hearing the old woman’s words.

“Do you really like women?”

“Yes, I suspect I like you.”

Facing Ji Xuerou’s joke, Wu Yan replied without changing expression. This time, Ji Xuerou was the one frozen in place.

“Alright, don’t forget today’s purpose, Xuerou.”

As Wu Yan walked past her, she patted her shoulder, snapping Ji Xuerou out of her thoughts.

“Oh, right.”

On the mountain path at the outskirts of Medicine King Valley, thick spirit herbs carpeted the ground, rustling underfoot. Wu Yan walked ahead of Ji Xuerou, the white sword tassel on the hilt of the No-thought Sword at her waist swaying with each step.

“I’ve wanted to ask you before—where did you get that sword tassel? It really suits you and your sword.”

Hearing Ji Xuerou’s question, Wu Yan glanced subconsciously at her waist. Her tone remained calm.

“My master gave it to me.”

“You’re very different from the rumors I’d heard about you, especially since coming to the Piaomiao Sect.”

Ji Xuerou stepped forward to walk beside Wu Yan, turning her head so her gaze landed on Wu Yan’s straight nose and bright red lips. Perhaps influenced by Wu Yan’s earlier retort, Ji Xuerou felt her heart couldn’t calm down.

‘Calm down! Remember, you came to her to learn how to become stronger. You can’t let your mind be disturbed by trivial things.’

“So, what was the me you heard about like?”

Wu Yan was very calm, as if they weren’t discussing the same person.

“Irritable, quick to anger, bullying superiors and subordinates, oppressive toward the weak, and…”

Ji Xuerou had other heard rumors after that, but seeing Wu Yan’s expression unchanged, she didn’t continue.

Wu Yan (Inner), who was nearby, had long grown accustomed to this list of words. At this point, she could only mutter one sentence.

“Just you wait, Benzuo.”

Then she had nothing more to say.

“That was also me.” Wu Yan casually broke off a green bamboo branch beside her, the cool sensation seeping into her body from her fingertips. “Later, I had a revelation, so I made a change.”

Could a revelation and change really make someone transform so completely?

Ji Xuerou didn’t ask further. She didn’t want to be too bothersome and ruin the relationship between her and Wu Yan. At least the current Wu Yan—she liked her.

“So, the next task is to investigate the stolen Pulling Thread within Medicine King Valley?”

“Mm.”

Without realizing it, Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou had arrived under a tree about seven zhang tall, its bark wrinkled beyond recognition. The wide shade was perfect for blocking the fierce summer sun. Wu Yan simply cleared a space under the tree large enough for two people to sit on the ground.

She bent down and sat, her fingers brushing past a bird-beast eating berries. Not only did the creature not flee, it affectionately rubbed against her slightly cold hand.

“You’re quite popular with these animals.”

Ji Xuerou sat down beside Wu Yan. This was already the third time in Medicine King Valley that she’d seen spirit beasts actively nuzzle against Wu Yan.

“Maybe they’re more in tune with human nature.”

Wu Yan curled her fingers, teasing the bird-beast’s beak.

Since leaving the Cangwu Secret Realm, Wu Yan had indeed noticed that spirit beasts approached her much more frequently. Before, even when she was feeling depressed and wanted to go pet Big Yellow on the peak to cheer up, it would run far away.

“Pfft, what’s so interesting about these little things?”

The Demon Venerable, who had never been liked by animals, said that.

“Back to the point. What method do you plan to use to investigate the whereabouts of the stolen Pulling Thread?”

“Before the investigation, Valley Lord Li gave me a list of everyone who handled the Pulling Thread from raw material collection to final storage.” Wu Yan took out a jade token inscribed with names from her storage bag. “And according to her, each batch of Pulling Thread has a unique serial number. Let’s start by looking into the people close to them.”

“As for not arousing suspicion…” Wu Yan took out a potion sealed with a wooden lid from her storage bag. “This is the Blur Potion Valley Lord Li gave me. Just wave it in front of them after questioning.”

“Valley Lord Li actually has such pharmaceutical skills…” Ji Xuerou looked at the Blur Potion in her hand, deep in thought.

“Don’t worry, this is Valley Lord Li’s exclusive version. Its effect won’t be strong enough to let people do bad things without consequences.”

With that explanation, Ji Xuerou safely accepted half of the Blur Potion that Wu Yan handed over.

“Alright, now split up and go according to the names on the jade token, Xuerou.”

Wu Yan set the plan and agreed to meet in Ji Xuerou’s room in the middle of the night.

“Huh? Pulling Thread? No, I’m just responsible for collecting raw materials.”

“I don’t know. I’m just in charge of refining. I really don’t understand that side of things.”

“Of course! Every piece of Pulling Thread goes through three rounds of inspection before storage. I guarantee not a single one is missing!”

Question after question, they got countless similar answers. For the part she was responsible for, Wu Yan had asked everyone possible, but their answers all pointed to one conclusion—there was no problem in their link.

Wu Yan even brought Yo Yo, who could sense Wu Yan (Inner)’s presence, along for the investigation, but still came up with nothing.

Late at night, Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou met.

“Hit a dead end too, Xuerou?”

“Mm.” Ji Xuerou put down the Blur Potion and tiredly rubbed her brow. “Their answers were normal, and my Glazed Pupils got the same result.”

Hearing Ji Xuerou’s reply, Wu Yan tapped the table with her index finger, producing a rhythmic sound. Since there was no problem with them, it was highly likely someone had committed the crime right under their noses. The only ones who could achieve that were people close to them. But investigating one by one would cost too much time and energy. It might be more efficient to just wait for the demonic cultivator to expose themselves.

With a creak, Xiao Yao Wan pushed open the door and waddled into Wu Yan’s arms with a swagger, knocking Yo Yo, who had been napping after a busy day, flying.

“Oh my, it seems the two of you have hit a snag in your investigation~” A gentle voice came from the doorway.

“Ning Xiyan?”

“The very same~”

At the door, Ning Xiyan held an unfolded brocade fan covering the lower half of her face, smiling as she greeted Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou.